Thank you for your continued support of Deadspin. Big basketball game tonight. We'll be here for it.

I got a four.

Yet another reason we love Jayson Stark with all our hearts: Today, he tackles the labyrinthine MLB rulebook, and gives a 10-question quiz to players, coaches, and media members. They didn't do so hot.

Parts of it are over 150 years old. It's 125 pages, 50,000 words, and much of it concerns hypothetical situations that an umpire will never, ever have to deal with. But they're in there, just in case. Stark, with the help of "baseball rules expert" Rich Marazzi, took 10 unlikely situations, and turned them into true/false questions.

Twenty players took the quiz, and averaged a 5.5. Five coaches averaged a 6.6. And seven writers averaged a 4.4. (Remember, it's true/false. By guessing you should be able to get a five.) Only one test-taker—D-Backs reliever Brad Ziegler—got a perfect score. ESPN's Aaron Boone somehow scored a one.

The quiz is here. Take it, and report back with your score.

[ESPN.com]

From a pair of ideas floated in April, the Falcons have chosen the official conceptual design for their new stadium, set to begin construction next year. It features an eight-piece roof that will twist closed—essentially an iris diaphragm. We hereby nominate, for a nickname, "The Sphincter."

The design, from 360 Architecture, received the necessary approval from the Georgia World Congress Center Authority today. The project now moves into the schematic design phase, the part where lovely renderings become sanded down to cold functionality by the realities of cost and load-bearing. But they do seem truly set on the petaled roof—360 principal Bill Johnson calls it "primarily an open building that closes instead of a closed building that opens."

The next step is to choose a site for the stadium—the preferred one is just south of the Georgia Dome, but two churches must be acquired before work can start. The city and state are currently in negotiations to buy the land, and if all goes smoothly, ground will be broken in early 2014. The city will pay for $200 million of the construction, and "potentially several times that" to maintain and operate the stadium through 2050.

Some more updated designs, via the Falcons:

San Jose is ready for the A's. They've got a plot of land. They're willing to finance a new stadium. Hell, there's already a stadium naming rights deal waiting. But nothing can happen until the Giants sign off or MLB gets off its ass, neither of which seem immediately likely. So it's lawsuit time.

The San Jose City Council voted today to file an antitrust suit against MLB and Bud Selig, just days after the sewage system at the outdated Coliseum overflowed, filling both clubhouses with human waste. That's not the only pile of shit here, according to the suit.

"This action arises from the blatant conspiracy by Major League Baseball to prevent the Athletics Baseball Club from moving to San Jose," according to the suit. "This action challenges - and seeks to remedy - Defendants' violation of state laws and use of the illegal cartel that results from these agreements to eliminate competition in the playing of games in the San Francisco Bay Area."

The A's have been looking to get out of Oakland for a long time. After the death of the Fremont plan, owner Lew Wolff set his eyes on the South Bay, which is becoming a new sports hotbed. (The Wolff-owned Earthquakes have a soccer-specific stadium under construction, and the 49ers new stadium in neighboring Santa Clara will open in 2014.) But there's a big problem. The Giants have exclusive territorial rights to San Jose and all of Santa Clara county, and can block another team from moving in on its turf.

Bud Selig hoped to avoid getting involved, telling the Giants and A's to work things out on their own. The Giants haven't budged, and Selig has refused to put it to a vote (23 owners could overrule the Giants' territorial rights), so Selig did what executives do when they don't want to do anything: he created a committee to study the issue. That was four years ago, and nothing's been heard from them since.

With the Heat one loss away from elimination, and tonight's Game 6 in Miami, it should come as absolutely zero surprise that Joey Crawford will be working the game.

Joey Crawford! Just the man to swing a series. The official who occasionally sees a shrink for anger management issues, who once broke his finger calling a technical foul, and keeps an extra whistle in his pocket because he has a tendency to bite through them. The official who was suspended an entire postseason after challenging Tim Duncan to a fight, and who was called "the worst thing about the NBA" without anyone crying hyperbole.

We don't actually think Crawford is a bad referee. Which is to say: we think he's self-important, and prone to tantrums, and somehow manages to make games about him when, in a just world, we wouldn't know any referees' names, but we don't think he makes egregiously bad calls or holds grudges or gets especially swayed by home crowds. Take a look at the referee stats; Crawford's home/road splits are solidly middle-of-the-pack.

So the problem isn't Joey Crawford's bias, even the public perception that he's biased. The problem is that the NBA is aware of this perception, and is explicitly using it to stir up drama. Bad reffing isn't a bug; it's a feature!

The ratings for these finals have been disappointing. A seven-game series would be a godsend. Everyone knows the league doesn't want this to end tonight, and everyone was already expecting the referees to tip Game 6 in Miami's favor. (Recall that Tim Donaghy's crime, as far as the legal system was concerned*, was not altering his own calls, but knowing enough about his crewmates' tendencies to favor home teams, teams down in a series, etc., to make money off of them. The TrueHoop crew has argued that it's unlikely Donaghy's misdeeds ended there.) So why assign Crawford tonight, if not to send a clear signal to fans that their expectations aren't misplaced? This series isn't over. Tune in, there's going to be controversy.

Even if nothing shady happens (Crawford worked Game 2, which was called cleanly), the league is doing a disservice to fans who'd like to pretend the NBA isn't full-on sports entertainment at this point, and as much as it pains us to write it, a disservice to Joey Crawford by typecasting him as the go-to "home team needs a win" referee. Hours before tip-off, there should be zero attention paid to the officiating crew. It should be about the ageless Spurs dynasty looking for one last crown, or what LeBron and the Heat can muster with their backs against the wall. Instead, as the NBA knew it would be, it's all about Joey Crawford.

* Clarification added to appease moralizing basketbloggers.

After a 2-0 win—a merciful regulation win—Boston finds itself halfway to a Stanley Cup, so it's not too early to start thinking Conn Smythe. That talk begins and ends with the man in net, but that's only because MVP can't be a team award.

Backed by second period goals from Daniel Paille and Patrice Bergeron (off a laser-guided pass from Jaromir Jagr), Tuukka Rask stopped all 28 shots he faced. It was just the second time Chicago's been shut out all year, but thanks to all the overtime in the finals, Rask is putting up some incredible numbers. The Blackhawks haven't scored in more than 122 minutes. They've scored just five times in 246 minutes. You want to go back further? Rask allowed just two goals in Boston's sweep of Pittsburgh. Ten goals in five games against the Rangers. It's frightening, but he's getting better as the playoffs go along. For a guy who's never backstopped a full NHL season, it's a sign that the 26-year-old might be the real deal.

“He’s just been focused since Day 1 of the playoffs,” B’s coach Claude Julien said. “You watch him on the off days: quiet, focused, calm. Right now all his energy is put toward his game, how he needs to keep his energy and rest and relax.

“So when the game starts, he’s a focused individual. I’ve never seen a guy so calm and, obviously, so confident with the way he’s played. This is probably the quietest I’ve seen him — but in a good way.”

He's why Boston was so willing to let Tim Thomas spend the year on his Sovereign Citizen Vision Quest or whatever. This is a remarkable similar team to the one that won the Cup in front of Thomas two years ago—the defensemen stay home, the forwards get back, and the goalie's mostly there to clean up any mistakes. So far this series, there haven't been many—Rask was never seriously challenged last night. No wonder the media voted Patrice Bergeron, robbed for the Selke, the game's first star, despite Rask's shutout. The Bruins themselves? They picked defenseman Dennis Seidenberg.

If Boston's defense has been a full-team effort, Chicago's offense is missing its centerpiece. Marian Hossa, the Blackhawks' leading scorer in these playoffs, was a surprise scratch after warmups. Or maybe not such a surprise: Jonathan Toews said they knew all day that Hossa might not go. Joel Quenneville would call it only an upper-body injury, and say that Hossa's day-to-day. Chicago's power play has gone 0-9 this series and 7-60 in the playoffs, and appears even grimmer if Hossa's out.

It may not matter. Rask and the Bruins flat-out gelded the Penguins, the regular season's top scoring team. The Blackhawks were second, and they've looked as punchless as—well, as the Canucks in the 2011 finals. We've seen this before. New goalie, same Boston dominance.

Today, former Saint Steve Gleason guested on SI's MMQB—no mean feat since he's in the later stages of ALS. He types using a program that tracks movements of his eyes, and his 4,500-word column took him four hours to compose. Around the same time the column was published, an Atlanta sports talk radio show did an entire segment, based on the premise that his computerized "voice" is hilarious. It was really, really bad.

This morning, 790 The Zone's Mayhem in the AM did a bit where hosts Steak Shapiro and Chris Dimino interviewed "Steve Gleason," played by co-host Nick Cellini. Outrage immediately spread, largely thanks to the Tiger Droppings board. But no one could find the audio, until New Orleans station The Ticket aired it this afternoon. Here's the segment:

A sample joke:

Knock knock.

Who's there?

Smother.

Smother who?

Smother me. Do me a favor.

Cellini almost immediately apologized on Twitter, and as the controversy picked up, 790 released a statement:

We deeply regret the comments made by Mayhem In The AM this morning on 790 The Zone regarding former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason. 790 The Zone, Lincoln Financial Media, our sponsors and partners in no way endorse or support the unfortunate and offensive commentary concerning Mr. Gleason this morning. The members of the show involved with this incident have been suspended indefinitely pending further management review of their actions.

Soon after, another statement: all three hosts have been fired.

"We deeply regret the offensive programming that aired this morning on “Mayhem In The AM” on 790 The Zone, related to former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason and his battle with ALS. We suspended the three individuals involved immediately following their comments and have since terminated their employment. 790 The Zone, our owners, sponsors and partners in no way endorse or support this kind of content. We sincerely apologize to Mr. Gleason, his family and all those touched by ALS."

[The Sun]

South Africa's Bernard Parker scored this rocket of a header, unfortunately into his own net. Because of that, the 2010 World Cup hosts won't be around for the 2014 edition.

In CAF qualifying, South Africa came into last night's game two points back of Ethiopia for the group's lone spot in the third round. The match was tied until the 70th minute, when Parker, attempting to clear a free kick cross, instead headed home a perfectly placed bullet from 15 yards out. The match would end 2-1, and Ethiopia cannot be caught.

But wait! Ethiopia may have fielded an ineligible player who should have been sitting with two yellow cards in previous group play. If Ethiopia are docked three points, South Africa could get the chance to lose again, in even more heartbreaking fashion.

[h/t Steven]

It's been one week since Chad Johnson earned himself a trip to jail for excitedly patting his attorney on the backside (he thought he was getting off without jail time, you see). But the judge has decided that Johnson learned his lesson, and after an apology, he's a free man.

"I just wanted to apologize for disrespecting the court last time," said Johnson, wearing a tan jail jumpsuit with his hands shackled at the waist. "I apologize. I did have time to reflect on the mistakes I made in this courtroom."

It's rough when the only person to come visit you in the poke is Terrell Owens. Johnson did the time for thrice failing to meet with his probation officer, a condition of his no-contest plea to battery in a domestic violence incident last year. Johnson says he will comply with the terms of his probation, which include counseling and community service, because he still hopes to make it back into the NFL.

Johnson sounds like he needs that NFL money—TMZ had gotten ahold of documents he filed in an attempt to lower his child support payments. At least according to Johnson's accounting, he's not doing so hot:

In docs filed in April, Johnson claims to only make about $3,000/month ... but that immediately disappears thanks to the $16,525 he already pays in child support.

Then when you get to his own expenses, Johnson forks over $9,063.24 in mortgage payments, $2,500 for food, $2,650 on car expenses, $3,500 on clothing, $250 for grooming, $5,000 on entertainment, $1,000 for pet expenses along with various other expenses that total $31,154.76.

Add it all up ... and Johnson is in the red $45,982.76/month.

Since Johnson getting cut was the best part of last year's otherwise-forgettable Hard Knocks, maybe the Bengals can find it in their hearts to give him another chance—at least for three weeks.

Hartford Whalers-themed wedding? Hartford Whalers-themed wedding. [Puck Daddy]

Something amazing happened at Merion yesterday. Phil Mickelson's U.S. Open history was summed up in a single rejection:

So when Rose was put back in the room, someone left the door open. Up the pathway trudged a beaten Mickelson. He walked up to the patio, asked someone where he needed to go and was directed to go straight. Mickelson walked to the open door, expecting to be allowed in.

A man in a red shirt shut it in his face.

"Sorry," a USGA official said. "That's where the champion is."

"Sorry, that's where the champion is." Life can be so literal sometimes.

It was Phil's birthday, because of course it was. Yet another second-place finish at the Open, his sixth dating back to 1999. It's hard to call this one a choke, even though Mickelson was leading coming into Sunday, and as it turned out, all he needed to do was stay even on the day. Hell, he could have matched his tournament-worst +2 from Friday and it would have been good enough for a playoff.

It didn't feel like a choke because the choke came so early, with a double-bogeys on three and five. For the majority of his round, a couple hours' worth, it felt like an attempted comeback, always on the verge but never quite getting going. The miracle eagle on 10. A birdie putt on 12 that Mickelson was convinced was going in until it didn't. On 13 he skyed it over the green for bogey—he would say later he pulled the wrong wedge. On 14, a long putt to save par. On 15, another errant wedge. On 16, another would-be birdie putt that just wouldn't move right. Somehow, Mickelson's final round managed to be as whiplash-inducing as a roller coaster while still being as inexorable as a log flume.

There's always been something weird and arbitrary about rooting for individual athletes in individual sports, but at times cheering for Phil Mickelson seems especially pointless. It's like rooting for Cnut to turn back the waves. Or, more fitting with the slapstick natures of each U.S. Open near-run, it's like rooting for the coyote to finally catch the road runner. Sure, it'd be satisfying, but you can't really expect it to happen.

Of course, this is what was said about The Masters, where Mickelson finished third four times before finally breaking through. Last night, addressing the microphones in the media tent—after the champion was done, of course—Mickelson considered what his run of second-place finishes would mean if he does finally break through. This being Phil, who might as well be followed by his own personal storm cloud wherever he goes, he was also forced to consider what they would mean if second is the closest he ever gets:

“If I had won today or if I ultimately win, I’ll look back at the other Opens and think that it was a positive play. If I never get the Open, then I look back and I think that...every time I think of the U.S. Open, I just think of heartbreak.”

Next year's U.S. Open will take place at Pinehurst's No. 2, where Phil tallied his first-ever second-place finish at the Open in 1999. He's been there already; he's done this before. Sometimes it seems as if Mickelson is just golfing through a history that's already been written, one just waiting to be played, the winner's hand just waiting to be shaken.

Manu Ginobili was having the worst playoff series of his life. Through the first four, he averaged just 7.5 points on 34.5 percent shooting, 1.5 rebounds, and three assists. So Gregg Popovich put him in the starting lineup. San Antonio is now one win away from another championship. Never doubt the Spurs.

"I told you Manu was going to have a big game," Tony Parker said. "You didn't listen." He's right, we didn't. Ginobili turns 36 next month, and spent the year racking up injuries, and seems like the first of the Big Three to hit his decline. He was openly pondering retirement on Saturday. But here's the thing: no other team has the best sixth man of the decade, just waiting to slide into the starting lineup when you need a tactical change. Spurs desperation is not like other teams' desperation.

So Ginobili went out and scored 24 points, his most in more than a year, and added 10 assists to go with it. Seven of those points came on a 12-1 Spurs run to seal the third quarter, pulling away after Miami had closed to within one. More than the statsheet, he looked like his old self: if he's lost a step, he hasn't lost the swagger.

The finals has been all counterpunching. Since a close Game 1, the teams have traded double-digit wins. In Game 4, Miami went small, starting Mike Miller. Popovich countered with Ginobili last night.

That's the series in a nutshell. The Heat have the best player; the Spurs have the second- and third- best. We knew this would come down to the supporting casts, and the fact remains that Popovich has more and better pieces to play with. Ginobili over Miller. Danny Green over Ray Allen (at least in 2013). Allen poured in 21 points last night off the bench, on 4-4 from three. Green scored 24, including six three-pointers, en route to setting an NBA finals record for threes made with 25. The record used to belong to Allen.

The Spurs' youths are more composed than the Heat's. The Spurs' veterans are more adaptable than the Heat's, able to contribute through aching bodies or off-nights, and capable of taking control of a game. Game 6 is in Miami tomorrow night, and we fully expect LeBron to score 45. But after that, the way this series and this Spurs dynasty has gone, we're not ready to rule out A Tracy McGrady Game.

Chris Bosh has been fined $5,000, which is nothing, for this flop, which was really something.

Old Dominion guard Donte Hill's college career is done. He isn't going to get a fourth season. All because he played eight minutes in a closed-door, preseason scrimmage three years ago. Rules are rules!

Hill started at Clemson, and before his sophomore season in 2010, played in a closed scrimmage against Georgia. A few days later, he announced he was transferring to ODU. He presumably assumed that the brief action didn't count, since he was allowed to suit up after sitting out that 2010-2011 season. (All transfers must sit out a year.)

He played two years at ODU, where he became a co-captain and led the Monarchs in minutes. But at some point this spring, the school became aware that his eligibility had expired. Yesterday, the NCAA turned down ODU's appeal to give him a true senior season. Sorry, bud.

"It's just a shame," coach Jeff Jones said. "I understand the rule is the rule. Unfortunately, Donte is the one who pays the price."

You can say Hill and ODU should have known: the bylaws state that "any competition, regardless of time, during a season in an intercollegiate sport shall be counted as a season of competition in that sport." But it's not about the player or the school getting blindsided. It's about the NCAA holding its unparsable rulebook to be so immaculate, it's impenetrable to common sense.

[Virginian-Pilot]

Japan—of course it's Japan, home of the Messi-stopping goalkeeper robot—has found a way to win all the Dave & Buster's tickets.

Developed by researchers at Chiba University, because science, the robot uses two high-speed cameras to track the puck and its opponent at a ridiculous 500 fps. But that's not the scariest part:

Basically, the robot observes the speed and position of the player's paddle in relation to the puck. This data can be described by what is known as a Motion Pattern Histogram (MPH). The robot uses this data to estimate whether its opponent is playing aggressively or defensively. Over the course of a game, the robot can detect these MPHs in real-time and compare them with reference patterns to help it figure out what you're doing.

[...]

So in a sense, by detecting and matching a given playing style, the robot isn't just physically playing the game against you: it's adding a psychological component to the match.

YET AGAIN, no one stops to think whether it's a good idea to teach robots how to figure out our weaknesses. Stick this thing on a Roomba and hand it a power drill, and we're all fucked.

[via Puck Daddy]